Mexico City Rocked by Devastating Earthquake
On the 32-year anniversary of Mexico enduring the deadliest and most destructive earthquake in the country's history, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit struck the capital Mexico City. With rescue efforts underway, the death toll (currently over 200) is expected to climb by Wednesday morning.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, "The epicenter of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake was 2.8 miles east-northeast of San Juan Raboso and 34.1 miles south-southwest of the city of Puebla."
Images released from Mexico City show chaotic scenes of leveled buildings and unconscious people being carried on stretchers. No amount of infrastructure development could have sufficiently prepared the region for such a destructive earthquake. Since the 1985 quake which killed over 5,000 people, buildings have been retrofitted to withstand calamitous earthquakes. But this most recent disaster was more severe than infrastructure upgrades could account for.
Mexico City is the western hemisphere's most populous city, making this catastrophe especially tragic. As reported by CNN, "President Enrique Peña Nieto said 22 bodies were found in the debris of an elementary school in Mexico City that collapsed due to the earthquake. At least 30 children were still missing Tuesday night, he said."
